13 Hidden Gems In Bangkok – Unique Things To Do Beyond The Tourist Trail

Bangkok is one of the most exciting cities in the world and the list of things to do in Bangkok is almost endless. Most travelers visit famous attractions like the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Chatuchak Market or Khao San Road. But if you look a little deeper you will quickly discover that the Thai capital is full of hidden corners, strange attractions and experiences that rarely make it into traditional travel guides.

After visiting Thailand more than 25 times and spending months exploring Bangkok, I can confidently say that some of the best experiences in the city are the ones most tourists never see. From secret street food markets and abandoned skyscrapers to bizarre museums, canal life and local hangouts, there are countless unique and unusual things to do in Bangkok if you are willing to step a little off the beaten path.

This guide focuses on some of the best hidden gems in Bangkok and unusual experiences around the city. Perfect if you have already seen the main attractions or if you simply want to explore a more authentic side of the Thai capital.

If this is your first time traveling to Thailand I recommend starting with my guide about things to know before traveling to Thailand. You can also check my 2 week Thailand itinerary or dive into the amazing world of Thai street food, one of the main reasons I keep coming back to Bangkok again and again.

Below you will find some of the most interesting hidden gems and unusual things to do in Bangkok that will show you a completely different side of the city.

RELATED: 68 fun and interesting facts about Thailand.

1. The three-headed elephant at the Erawan Museum

I had next to no idea that this temple even existed until I randomly stumbled upon it while exploring outside central Bangkok. The Erawan Museum is home to one of the most bizarre and impressive landmarks in Thailand: a gigantic three headed elephant statue standing almost 30 metres tall above the city.

The famous bronze elephant, known as Erawan in Hindu mythology, represents the mount of the god Indra. Inside the statue you will find a beautifully decorated museum with colorful stained glass ceilings, intricate staircases and religious artwork. Even if you decide not to enter the museum, just seeing the enormous three headed elephant from the outside is already one of the most unusual sights in Bangkok.

The Erawan Museum in Samut Prakan is located just south of Bangkok and can easily be reached by BTS Skytrain and a short taxi ride. Because it sits outside the main tourist zones, it remains one of the most underrated attractions near Bangkok and a perfect hidden gem for travelers looking for unusual things to do.

Check all my tips on how to get around in my Complete Thailand Travel Guide.

Entry to the museum isn’t cheap either at a stinging 700 THB ($20 USD) for adults but totally worth it if you are looking for unique things to do in Bangkok.

If you are travelling on a budget this may not be the best place to visit in Bangkok. However you can also see the three headed elephant from the outside. The elephants weigh a hefty 29 tonnes and stretches for 39 metres so seeing it from the outside is going to save you some bucks.

2. Sathorn’s hidden markets

Sathorn is more commonly known for high-rise buildings and office workers but there’s a bustling little side alley that is almost always packed with locals looking for top notch food or a bargain in terms of clothing, sunglasses to handbags. 

The reason I dig this place so much is the Thai street food that you can find here and how much cheaper it is compared to a touristy restaurant just around the corner.

Silom 7 Alleyway is a true hidden gem and it will get you away from the constant honking of horns and into a place where you can get a meal for around 2 USD, drink included.

I used to hang out in Bangkok for about 2 months and the Sathorn markets were my local hidden gem and therefore couldn’t be missed in this list of unusual things to do in Bangkok.

3. Chinatown’s epic warehouse malls

You may think that Chinatown is all temples and Chinese food streets but you are so wrong! Chinatown is one of my favourite places to visit in Bangkok but if you dig a bit deeper when exploring this vibrant joint there’s a good chance that you will come across a plethora of malls and  warehouse varieties selling everything you could possibly need and I mean everything.

The place to go shopping and at the same  time combining it some weird things to do in Bangkok:  the Chinatown’s hidden warehouses!

They are quite easy to find you’ll just need to take a few streets back from the main strip until you come across one. There are literally buildings dedicated to selling accessories for cars, lamps and lights to toys for kids and I know what you might be thinking “how am I meant to fit a lightshade in my hand luggage?” well you don’t have to buy anything it’s just an strange place to see in Bangkok and there’s a very good chance that you’ll get lost among the mazes of these incredible Chinatown warehouses.

4. Chong Non Si Night Markets

Chong Non Si is very much less visited by those travelling to Bangkok but a place popular with expats. On all my trips to Bangkok, I always visit the Chong Non Si area as it is way less touristy than the central hub of the city. The Chong Non Si Night Markets are one of the best things to do in Bangkok at night and not so touristy.

One of the main reasons I travel to Bangkok is for the food and there are many times where I wish I had three stomachs as the street food is just out of this world and it’s so affordable! However not all places in Bangkok are equal for the quality of food and often the best spots are a few kilometres away from the main city centre.

Night markets are generally better than the day time ones as the temperature is slightly cooler plus there are a lot more things happening during the evenings. Chong Non Si markets are typical market stalls jam packed along the edge of a very busy road where everything from sweets and deserts to freshly cooked pad Thai or freshly juiced coconuts can be found.

In Thailand there is a huge price difference when it comes to food with the most expensive in fancy restaurants of course while the cheapest can be found on the sides of streets, literally! It is not just because I love to travel to Thailand on a budget, also simply because Thailand street food is absolutely yummy. Therefore visiting places like Chong Non Si are one of the best things to do in Bangkok and they don’t hurt your wallet either.

One of my favourite Thai dishes is Tom Yum, a sweet and sour soup with lots of fresh vegetables and own choosing of meat while my favourite desert is a taro bun or custard bun which are steamed to perfection.

Getting to the Chong Non Si Night Markets is pretty simple and can be done so from Sathon Bus Station. The bus stops a few times before getting to Chong Non Si and only costs 15 baht one way or just use Grab taxi.

5. Try wake boarding in Bangkok

If you have always wanted to try this ‘extreme’ sport but didn’t want to break the bank for it then this is your chance. Zanook Wake Park is smaller than the popular Thai Wake Park but closer to the city center. The Thai Wake Park is about 45 minutes away.

Wake boarding is one of those unusual things to do in Bangkok that probably didn’t cross your mind at first but a fun thing to do and as it always hot in Bangkok also a refreshing thing to do.

6. The Lunch Time Experience

Like most people in the world, I am a huge fan of grabbing lunch but not as big of a fan as the Thai people are! In Bangkok each and every day, workers knock off for an hour around 11am to 12pm for lunch and oh boy it can be one of the busiest times outside of peak hour traffic.

Getting lunch in the bustling capital of Thailand is a true mission to find the best seat in fact any seat to sit down and chow away. Throughout the city there are so thousands of places one can go to fill up before going back to work and no you don’t have to be an office worker to join in, anyone can sit down for a meal.

I spent a few hours in Sathon right in the heart of the city where thousands upon thousands of workers flock to rooms packed with plastic seats, tissue paper, chopsticks and knives and forks while hundreds of vendors vie for the customer’s attention. If you are looking for a unique experience than join in with the locals in this unusual thing to do in Bangkok.

Deciding on which meal to have is one of the trickiest things you can do while in Bangkok as there are endless meals to choose from and the best of all is that they are all cheap, expect to pay less than 60 baht ($2) for a decent serving of your choice. 

In Bangkok, they have a pay before you eat card which is topped up at a counter then you take your card, choose your meal and watch it be cooked in front of you, the cook then takes your card and scans it to take the amount for the meal off your card which is a fantastic way to eat. 

If you don’t use all of your money on the card, simply take it back to the counter at the front of the stalls and get back what you didn’t spend.

Finding these diners is fairly easy as they can be found in most to every mall in the city to markets of all sizes.

7. The abandoned airplane graveyard in Bangkok (one of the city’s strangest places)

For years there was a bizarre attraction in Bangkok known as the airplane graveyard, where a few abandoned aircraft were left in an open field on the eastern side of the city. Travelers used to be able to explore the planes by paying a small unofficial entrance fee to locals living nearby.

Access to the site has changed over the years and it is not always open to visitors anymore. Still, the story of Bangkok’s abandoned airplanes remains one of the strangest urban legends in the city.

But where there is a will there is a way...

To get access to the abandoned airplane graveyard in Bangkok you basically have to bribe someone. There are mostly some locals controlling the area but they are definitely not the owners.

It is not far from the city center and once you get access you are free to roam around at this airplane graveyard in Bangkok. Climb on top of an old airplane in Bangkok, this is your chance to do something unique in Bangkok.

8. Stroll through Soi Arab

Soi Arab is a true hidden gem in Bangkok, a totally unsuspecting, vibrant place right across the road from Nana. Soi Arab is located pretty central, though still off the beaten path in Bangkok.

What makes Soi Arab so amazing is that it is the complete opposite of its neighbor, Nana, a place that is named on every list of places to visit in Bangkok with Irish Pubs, western restaurant chains and bright flashing lights. But then there’s Soi Arab, a calm series of streets cornered with palm trees and nice touches of the Middle East. 

Prior to visiting Soi Arab I was in Nana and I couldn’t stand it one bit so I decided to go check out Soi Arab where I indulged in a true shawarma kebab made with a whole lot of heart. After a decent meal, I ventured further into the back streets of Soi Arab to see what this place is all about and I got quite the surprise! 

Soi Arab is a much more relaxed despite the usual vendor trying to haggle you into buying a cheap souvenir but apart from that, expect to see many restaurants with Middle Eastern cuisine, football been screened across a variety of flat screen televisions while avid supporters watch on. 

Visiting Soi Arab is a unique thing to do and home to some of the nicest people in Thailand and the food is pure goodness! I can guarantee that you will enjoy Soi Arab a lot more than its infamous Bangkok attraction Nana.

9. Visit Ayutthaya 

Ayutthaya may not be exactly in Bangkok but its close enough for my liking. Ayutthaya is the perfect day trip from Bangkok taking 1.5 hours to reach (dependent on traffic) and once you are there, its just pure bliss as the Chao Phraya flows on by backed by the Wat Chai Temple and lush green parklands dotted with ancient-ruin temples.

Ayutthaya is basically an island in the middle of Thailand surrounded by the Chao Phraya, Pa Sak River and the Lop Buri River with a variety of Khlong’s (canals) running throughout the city.

Wat Chai Watthanaram is a truly exceptional Buddhist temple built in the 17th century while the Wat Kasattrathirat Worawhiran temple is a gold and red doused structure commonly seen throughout Thailand. 

Towards the centre of Ayutthaya is Rama Public Park, a fantastic tree-laden area with bike paths, walking trails mixing in with ancient Buddhist structures such as Wat Phra Ram which is unique with a Khmer-style spire said to be built in the 13th century!

After visiting temples in Ayutthaya just sit by the Chao Phraya during the late afternoon and watch the sunset over these magnificent ancient structures with a glass of Thai beer and a plate of spicy goodness!

Since Ayutthaya is not too far away and you can easily use a Grab taxi to get there and back I listed it as one of the unusual things to do in Bangkok. Get away from bustling Bangkok for a bit and go watch the sunset in Ayutthaya, it is worth it.

10. Join a workout in Lumphini Park

Wanna stay closer to escape the constant chaos of the city? Situated in central Bangkok, the Lumphini Park is the place to go! In the early mornings in Lumphini Park, avid lovers of the outdoors flock to the park to undertake various forms of exercise from Tai Chi to badminton and from football to bootcamps. It is not commons but locals love to see tourists joining in. Definitely one of the fun things to do in Bangkok.

Lumphini Park has endless trails to walk under the canopies of dense foliage with lakes coursing throughout making it a prime place to find a patch of grass, lay on down and switch off from the sounds of the city.

11. Explore Bangkok’s hidden canals (Khlongs)

Bangkok’s geographical position puts it on the edge of the Thai Gulf and with some serious monsoonal conditions, the city gets a lot of water throughout the year and that’s when the Bangkok canals come into play. 

Life off the beaten path in Bangkok revolves a lot around rivers and canals as they provide crucial access to many parts of the cities so there’s a good chance that you’ll find a lot of the locals living around these places. Canals are all over the city and some are bigger than others so expect to find everything from fish markets, vegetable markets to boat tours among these vibrant places but be warned, the Bangkok canals can be smelly places especially the smaller ones and if you decide to do a boat tour, check that you have all of your vaccinations in place.

Most people opt for a canal tour during the day but my advice and a much more unusual thing to do in Bangkok is to take a sunset canal tour. It is much less touristy, not that crowded and with the sun setting in the background even pretty romantic as well.

RELATED: 4 different 2-week itineraries for Thailand.

12. Terminal 21 Mall

Malls in Thailand are somewhat of a national treasure or should I say “national pastime”. I never expected to see so many malls in Bangkok and yes, most have the same shops selling exactly the same things as other malls throughout the city but there is a certain experience one gets from wandering these spectacular structures of bustling Bangkok.

One of the coolest place to go shopping in Bangkok is Terminal 21 on Sukhumvit Road where each level is dedicated and designed to match a destination such as Paris, Rome, Tokyo and Istanbul. Terminal 21 has a staggering 30 floors to explore! I am not a shopping fan but walking around here was a great experience and made me decide to add it to this list of unusual things to do in Bangkok.

The Ma Boon Khrong Centre or MBK is a mecca for shopaholics with a staggering 2,000 shops but do yourself a favor and visit MBK at night as there is an awesome display of lights constantly changing colours and doing whacky things to lure you into this epic masterpiece.

Before you leave Bangkok, you have to visit this legendary mall Siam Discovery where 400 stores are available for your choosing but if you do choose to go here, the food is the best and is a prime place to go for dinner but expect to pay quite some money compared to street food as most of the restaurants are at the top end of the dining experience.

13. Ghost Tower Bangkok

Nope this has nothing to do with a building being haunted, this almost 50 stories high skyscraper was built in the 90’s, but then due to several conflicts between the investors completely abandoned. Every since no development has taken place and it became the ghost tower.

When visiting Thailand many years ago it was possible to bribe the guards and enter the building at your own risk, but for several years it has been closed off completely and it seemed impossible to enter. Recent reports say that some adventurers were able to gain access somehow. So if you feel like climbing to the top of a deserted skyscraper this is your chance.

Although one of the most unusual things to do in Bangkok keep in mind that entering the building is illegal!

Getting around in Bangkok

Bangkok’s transport is surprisingly good, like really good with most train and bus services mostly always on time but I cannot say the same for taxi’s and tuk tuk’s. Trains service most of the city as do buses so it’s really a matter of where in the city you want to go. Personally I prefer to use Grab taxi, the metro or the sky train!

How to get around Thailand?

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I hope the above tips for weird things to do in Bangkok were helpful for your upcoming Thailand trip.

I also wrote an island hopping Thailand guide, island hopping itineraries, a Koh Tao travel guide, top 10 things to do in Bangkok and 50 more Thailand travel blogs.

In case you have any questions don't hesitate to send me a message on my Instagram account @traveltomtom. 

Enjoy the pictures and wanderlust vibes on my Instagram as Im trying to travel to every country in the world.

Enjoy your trip to Bangkok!

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